Safety switch



J. R. CLARK SAFETY SWITCH Jan. 27, 1942.

Filed May 9, 1941 N NE C W m m ATTORN EYS Patented Jan. 27, 1942 a UN I T ED STATES PAT E N T OFFICE 5 I g? 2,270,993 Z *SAFETY SWITCH J amesv :Roy Clark; Appalachia, Va... assignor '--to G. C....Gilley, Appalachia, S. H. Rivers, Calvin,

and J. H. Hagy, Imboden; Va.

Application May 9, 1941; Serial No'.'-392,76'7

2 Claims.

This invention relates to safety switches and has for an object to provide a device of this character which can be used on mine trolley wires or high tension lines, and is in the form of a plug connector which can be manually removed to cut ofi the power in case of a trolley wire being dislodged by roof falls, or may be taken out to add more trolley wire, with greater safety to the wiremen than similar devices.

A further object is to provide a device of this character which will be formed of a few strong, simple and durable parts, which will be inexpensive to manufacture, and which will not easily get out of order.

With the above and other objects in view, the invention consists of certain! novel details of construction and combination of parts hereinafter fully described and claimed, it being understood that various modifications may be resorted to within the scope of the appended claims without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

In the accompanying drawing forming a part of this specification:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a trolley wire showing a safety switch incorporated therein in accordance with the invention.

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the trolley wire with the safety switch removed.

Figure 3 is a cross sectional view taken on the line 33 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a perspective View of the safety switch.

Figure 5 is a perspective view of the socket in one section of the trolley wire to permit the insertion of the switch.

Referring now to the drawing in which like characters of reference designate similar parts in the various views, the safety switch comprises a body l formed of wood or other insulating material and metallic sleeves ll secured to the lower edge of the body by screw bolts I2. The body is provided in the center thereof with a recess l3 which opens through the sides and lower edge of the body. The metal sleeves II are arranged in alignment at opposite sides of the recess and are adapted to receive the ends M of the trolley wires or high tensionlines. The ends of the trolley wires are secured in the sleeves by set screws I5.

The sleeves II are provided with semi-cylindrical extensions l6, see Figure 3. The extensions are provided in their opposed ends with recesses forming sockets H, the extension being cut away on one side of each socket to provide an opening I8 for permitting the conductor IQ of the switch member 20 being inserted by rectilinear movement into each socket.

The switch member 20 is in the nature of a plug of wood or other insulating material and is removably mounted in the recess I 3 of the body. The plug is provided on its lower side with the above mentioned conductor I9, which is cylindrical in contour and is secured to the body by a tubular bracket 2| having ears 22 which engage the front and rear faces of the body and are secured to the plug by bolts 23 passed through the ears, see Figure 3. A handle 24 projects forwardly from the front face of the plug and is secured thereto in any preferred manner. An insulating washer 25 is interposed between the handle and the plug, see Figure 4. By gripping the handle 24 extending in a vertical position, the ends of the conductor l9 may be shoved in a rectilinear direction through the open front sides of the sockets I! to permit the ends to drop into the sockets. The sockets form fulcrums to permit the handle being moved in -an are into the horizontal to dispose the plug 20 in the recess l3.

When the plug is disposed in the reces it is releasably confined in position by pins 26 which are engaged in openings 21 in the insulating body l0. A helical spring 28, see Figure 3, is sleeved on each pin and bears against a collar 29 on the pin, and against the upper wall of the opening to yieldably hold the pin projected at the lower end into the recess l3 of the body. The pins may be withdrawn to permit insertion of the plug 20, as above described, and when the plug is inserted, the pins may be released to enter openings 30 formed in wear plates 3|, which are inverted U-shape in form and are secured to the upper face of the plug by screws 32 passed through the legs of the wear plates and into the front and rear faces of the plug 20. Openings 33 are formed in the upper face of the plug 20, in registration with the openings 30, to receive the lower ends of the pins and positively hold the plug in operative position until the pins 26 are withdrawn.

To remove the plug and thus electrically disconnect the ends I 4 of the trolley wire, the pins 26 are withdrawn against the pressure of their controlling springs 28 and then the handle 24 may be rocked down to dispose the plug 20 exteriorly of the recess whereupon the handle may be lifted vertically to dispose the ends of the conductor IQ for withdrawal forwardly through the opening l8 in the front sides of the socket members I1.

The body In is equipped with hangers 34 to suspend the trolley wire from any suitable support.

From the above description it is thought that the construction and operation of the invention will be fully understood without further explanation.

What is claimed is:

1. A safety switch comprising an insulating body provided in the center thereof with a recess which opens through the sides and lower edge of the body, metal sleeves secured in alignment to the lower edge of the body on opposite sides of said recess adapted to receive current carrying wires, said sleeves being provided with extensions at their opposed ends having sockets therein and provided with openings in the front sides communicating with said sockets, a safety plug formed of insulating material removably mounted in said recess in the body, a handle projecting forwardly from the front side of the plug, a tubular bracket secured to the lower edge of the body, and a cylindrical conductor in the bracket projecting from both ends of the bracket to be received in said sockets through said openings, and means for yieldably securing the plug in said recess in the body.

-2. The structure as of claim 1 and in which said means comprises a spring pressed pin carried by the body projecting into the recess in the body and adapted to be received in an opening in the upper edge of the plug.

JAMES ROY CLARK. 

